Water-wheel



NITED sTATEs JNo.OUsTnR, OF FINLEY, OHIO.

WATER-WHEEL.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 20,335, dated May 25, 1858.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN CUSTER, of Finley, in the county of Hancock and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Horizontal lVater-Wheel; and I do hereby declare that `the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a vertical central section of my improvement. Fig. 2, is a plan or top view of ditto. Fig. 8, is a detached sectional view of a bucket, taken in the line (m), (m), Fig. l. Fig. 4, is a detached perspective view of ditto.

Similar lett-ers of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several gures.

This invention consists in a novel arrangement of the wheel and chute as hereinafter shown, whereby the wheel is rende-red capable of being raised and lowered as circumstances may require and the water properly directed into the buckets at any point or position of the wheel within the range of its adjustment.

The invention also consists in the peculiar construction of the buckets and the wheel generally, as hereinafter described whereby a large percentage of power is obtained and the construction of the wheel rendered simple and economical.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A, represents a circular cast iron plate which is fitted loosely on a vertical shaft B, said shaft being at its lower part of quadrilateral form so that the wheel and plate will rotate together and the plate be allowed to rise and fall on the shaft. On the lower part of the shaft B, an inverted conical hub or boss (a) is formed, and through the plate A, near the shaft B, four screws (D), pass vertically, the lower ends of said screws resting on the top of the hub or boss (a), see Fig. l. The shaft B, has its lower end stepped in a cross-tree (c) and the upper end of said shaft has i-.ts bearing in a cross piece (d) connected with a suitable framing, The upper surface of the plate A, has radial grooves in it, or, radial flanches may be on the upper surface of the plate to form sockets to receive arms (e). These arms are constructed of wood and they project sufficiently far beyond the edge of the plate A,

so that the buckets C, may be att-ached to them. The buckets C, are constructed of cast iron of peculiar form and are shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The buckets are formed each of two parts, one part being so constructed as to receive the percussive force ofthe water and the other part to receive a force from the gravity of the water as it leaves the buckets. The upper parts (f) of the buckets'are formed of a top piece (9;), aback (h), `a side (i), and a bottom piece (j). The top piece (g) and side (i) project from the backUt) so as to form obtuse angles with it, 'and the bottom piece (j)` does not extend wholly across the bucket, but only about half way, a space (la) being allowed, which space forms the orifice of the lower part (Z) of the bucket. The lower parts (Z1) of the buckets are ofscoop form as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 4, the bot-'toms of saidparts being inclined at an angle of about 45. The outer edge of the back (L) of each bucket is provided with an eye (m) through which the outer ends of the arms (e) pass, and the front edges of the sides (i) of each bucket is notched or recessed to receive the arm of the bucket immediately before it, see Figs. 3 and 4. Each bucket therefore serves as a bearing or support for the one immediately before it, and each bucket is bolted to its arm as shown at (a). The plate A, and buckets C, are covered by a plate A', 'secured in proper posiition by any proper means.

D, represents the sluice through which the water is conducted to the wheel, and E, is a cylindrical case in which the wheel is fitted. The sluice D, is made to communi-4 cate with the case E, by means of an adjustable mouth F. This mouth F, is formed of a bottom and top piece (a), (n), the outer ends of which are hinged as shown at (n) to a vertical sliding board G, fitted transversely in the sluice D, and having an opening (o) made through it. This board G may be raised and lowered by means of an arm (p) attached to a rock shaft g) which has a hand lever (r) connected to it. The inner ends of the bottom and top pieces (n) (n) are connected to a vertical sliding bar (s), the upper end of which is attached to a lever (t) see Figs. l and 2. It will be seen thatthe outer ends of thebottom and top pieces (n) (a) may be elevated and de- -v levers.(t),

' in passing pressed by adjusting 4the sliding board G, and the inner 'ends'of said'pieces (n), (n), may be elevated or depressed by operating the lever (t), the pieces (n) working on the hinges (n) as centers.

The operation is as follows: The wheel may be raised or lowered within its case E, by adjusting the screws '(6), the plate A being allowed to ris-e and fall freely on the shaft B, and the water is directed properly into the buckets C, at whatever height the wheel may be placed by adjusting the mouth F, by moving either or both of the The wheel therefore may be adjusted according to the height of the water so that a uniform fall may be obtained. The water first acts against the upper parts of the buckets by impact and own into the lower parts (Z) of the buckets and out fromV them, a force isobtained by the weight or gravity of the water, and owing to the form of the buckets as shown the water is allowed to pass Very directly through the buckets so thatuthere and susceptible of beingv readily repaired in y case'of a bucket being broken.

Il do not claim broadly so forming the buckets of horizontal water wheels that the percussive force of the water as well as that caused by gravity are obtained, for buckets have been devised and arranged in various ways to accomplish this purpose; but, having thus described my invention,

Whatl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

l. Placing the plate A, loosely on the shaft B, and rendering the same adjustable thereon by means of set screws (ZJ), or their equivalents in connect-ion with the adjustable mouth F, in the sluice D, the parts being arranged substantially as herein shown and described for the purpose set forth.

2. The buckets C,con'structed of the form herein shownk and described vso that the'percussive force of the water is Obtained and also the force produced by'its weight as it passes from the buckets, and the water at the Sametime allowed to pass in a very direct and uninterrupted manner throughthe buckets, so as notto occasion much loss of power by friction.

CHARLES ONEL,V H. y'.PARLE'r'r. 

